Google ordered by US judge to open up Play Store to competition

The lawsuit, which was filed by Epic in 2020, accused Google of monopolizing the pattern in which customers access various apps on any Android device.

The tech giant further said that it is piloting a new feature aimed at combating digital arrest scams. (AP photo)

Alphabet owned Google has been ordered by a US judge to modify the business of its mobile app in order to give Android users more options to download apps and to pay for transactions within them.

The judgment, which was passed on Monday, follows a jury verdict last year which dealt with ‘Fortnite’ maker Epic Games.

The injunction by US District Judge James Donato in San Francisco gives an outline to Google to open up its app store named Play to larger competition, including making Android apps available from rival sources.

The lawsuit, which was filed by Epic in 2020, accused Google of monopolizing the pattern in which customers access various apps on any Android device and how they make payment for any in-app purchases.

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North Carolina-based company, The Cary, argued in December 2023 that Google unlawfully killed its competitors by controlling the app distribution and payments of in-app transactions among others, which eventually became a contributing factor for Judge Donato’s injunction.

Google had denied any wrongdoing in the case filed in the matter. Epic had proposed certain reforms to resolve the matter but Google, while arguing the case, said that the proposed reforms were costly, overly restrictive and could harm consumer privacy and security.

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“You’re going to end up paying something to make the world right after having been found to be a monopolist,” District Judge James Donato told Google’s lawyers.

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In a separate case, the US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Google in Virginia federal court over its dominating stance in the market for advertising technology.